Richness and Fluctuation of Chrysoperla carnea and Coccinella septempunctata on Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. in Baharyia and Farafra Oases -Western Desert, Egypt.

Document Type : Original Article

Author

1. Plant Protection Department, Desert Research Center, Mataria, Cairo, Egypt. 2. Biology Department. Faculty of science , Jazan University, K. S. A. E-mail: usama778@yahoo.com

Abstract

The population dynamics and distribution of Chrysoperla carnea and Coccinella septempunctata collected monthly from eight alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) fields in two oases of Western Desert, Egypt was studied during two successive years. Chrysoperla carnea was collected by a net and represented 5652 individuals including 3021 and 2631 from Farafra and Baharyia Oases respectively. In Farafra Oasis in Shimenara location was richer than the other site and recorded 35.91% of collected individuals and the Grad was found to be a poor location and represented by 13.7 %. Baharyia Oasis site Kasaa 3 was high in richness and contained 32.12% of collected individuals, Al-Gafara location was the poor location and represented 14.63 %. The fluctuation of C. carnea was amplified in autumn, spring and sharply declined during winter and summer. A total number of 3672 C.  septempunctata was collected, including 1986 from Farafra Oasis and 1686 from Baharyia Oasis and represented by 54.1% and 45.9%, respectively. The insect population showed a clear variation in number in both the locations, we found that the count increased in the second year representing 64% of the total insects collected.  At the same time, in the first year Farafra Oasis was richer while Bahariya Oasis increased slightly in the second year. The increase ofC. septempunctatain autumn was repeated in spring and sharply decreased during winter and summer months. The maximum numbers were collected in the months of February, March, and April and the highest count of both the years (2013 and 2014) was in March. 

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